Automatic regulator for motor-driven pumping apparatus.



R. H. RICE.- AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR MOTOR DRIVEN PUMPING APPARATUS.

P APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1910. 1,1 00,257.

Patented June 16, 1914.

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R. H. RICE.

AUTOMATIG REGULATOR FUR MOTOR DRIVEN PUMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1010. 1,100,257, Patented June 16,1914.

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RICHARD RICE, OE LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRTC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEV. YORK.

AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR MOTOR-DRIVEN PUMPING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1914.

Application filed May 19, 1910. Serial No. 562,172.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RICHARD citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Regulatorsfor lvIotor-Driven Pumping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic regulating devices for motors or prime movers such as steam engines, tur bincs. etc., said devices being responsive to changes in the pressure of a fluidwhich is being transferred by a pump driven by said motor with the object of maintaining the suction or suction pressure constant.

It is especially designed for use in connection with coking ovens, where the gas resulting from the coking ope 'ations is led cit to be utilized for industrial purposes.

\Vhen coal is highly heated in a closed retort out of contact with air, it undergoes a complete change and yields a great variety and quantity of gas, liquids, and solid volatile products, together with a non-volatile residue of coke; The gas and other volatile products escape from the retort through a pipe, and when the distillation oil the coalv is at an end, the coke, consisting of impure carbon mixed with. ash or mineal matter, can be drawn out from the retort. The hotpassing througl'i the pipe is led into sundry pieces of apparatus which purity and condense and cool it, after'which it is forced by the compressor or pump into a suitablegas holder from which it is distributed for illuminating and heating purposes. The suction of the-compressor produces a draft upon the retorts, and inasm'i'ich as the volume of gas generated is not constant, it :tollows that the speed of the compressor must be varied to accord with the amount of gas {liven oil by the retorts in order to hold a constant; suction iirtlie pipe where it leaves the retorts or the coke ovens.

The ordinary mode of regulating the speed of the turbine or. other motor driving the compressor or exhauster is to station an observer at the retorts who by means of a suitable gage notes when the pressure in the H. RICE, a

main increases or decreases and thereupon telephones to the-engineer in charge of the compressor plant which is usually located at some distance away. The engineer manually regulates the speed of his engine or motor in accordance with these messages from the observer, in order to maintain as closely, as possible an evbn suction upon the main. But this system is obviousiy uncertain, owing to the necessity of depending on two or more operators, who must be always on the watch and must keep in almost. constant communication with each other. The object of the present invention is to better these unsatisfactory conditions by substituting an automatic mechanism for the observer and his fellow operator, such mechanism con1prising broadly speaking a pressure responsive device in the main near the retorts, acting by means of a suitable transmission on the controlling mechanism of the engine or motor.

The novel features of my improved apparatus are set forth in the accompanying description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a systemembodyi'ng my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the levers connected "to the pressure regulator; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in sec tion, showing the solenoid magnets and gear which control th valves of a turbine: Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same; and Figs. .3 and 6 illustrate a valve operating mechanism with the regulating system connected to it.

The gas generator or retort 1 delivers its products to a series of treating'devices (not shown) arranged between the T and the compressor 3 and con EQCtQtl by the main or pipe 2 to said compressor. Tie compressor or exhauster 3 is preferably a centrifugal compressor, although the machine can be of the reciprocating type. This compressor is driven by a suitable motor, preferably a steam turbine a of the Curtis type, although an electric motor or reciprocating engine might be used. The turbine is provided with a valve operating mechanism 5,.Figs. Sand 6, controlled by a speed responsive device, nd actuating a plurality of successively operated valves which are also under the segmental gear 43. \Vhen the armature 36 control of a pressure responsive device located near the gas generator.

The pressure responsive device consists of a water receptacle 6 mounted on theT connection 7, closely adjacent to the retort 1. A bell 8 is located in the receptacle 6 and connected to the lever 9 by means of a bifurcated rod 10. The rod 10 projects through a hole 11 formed in the cover 12. Threaded into the receptacle 6 is a vertical tube 14 which extends upwardly through thewater or other suitable liquid 15 and terminates within the bell 8. This tube allows 1 the gases from the T 7 to pass into the bell.

The water serves as a seal to retain the gases in said bell while permitting it to move vertically in .either direction. The pressure responsive device is designed to cooperate with the pump driving motor regulator to maintain a constant suction pressure of from 2 to 3 of water, as required, and hold it at a value not exceeding 1/10" to .05 either way from the mean.

The bifurcated portion of the rod 10 is provided with a pin which cooperates with the bifurcated end of the lever 9 and imparts to said lever any movement of the bell S, which bell is balanced by a counterweight 16 held in position by'a suitable set screw. On the lever 9 is a projection 17 which serves as a switch and cooperates with the contact screws 18 and 19 located in an open frame 20 forming part of the lever 21. The contact screws are threaded intoinsulating bushings 22 and 23 which are driven into the upper and l wer members of the frame 20.- The lovers 9 and 21 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 24; which in turn is mounted in the brackets 13 on the cap 12 and held in fixed position by a set screw 27. The levers 9 and 21 work independently of each other and to prevent their hubs from coming in rubbing contact with each other a spacing member or collar 28 of enlarged diameter is machined on the shaft 24.

Secured to the contact members 18 and 19 are two electrical conductors 29 and 30, the other ends of which are connected to the solenoid magnets 31 and 32. Connected to the contact member 33 formed on the projection 17 of the lever 9 is a third electrical conductor 34 which is common to the magnets 31 and This colulu'ctor completes their circuits and arranged therein is a battcry 35 which furnishes the current for energizing the magnets 31 and These magnets are provided with an armature 3G capable of operating a lever 37 in both di rections. The armature 36 is slotted to receive one nd oi the' lever 37 which is fulrumed at 38 on the double lever 39. On

the lever 37 are the pawls 40 and 41 which -valves.'

and segmental gear 62 is moved in either direction by the pull of the magnets, the lever 37 fulcrums on the shaft 38 and forces one of the pawls into engagement with the teeth 42 of the gear. When it comes in contact'therewith, the lever 37 and the double lever 39 act as a unit and any further movement of the armature 36' causes the levers37 and 39 to move about the shaft 44 carrying with them the segmental gear 13. The bridge piece 45, Fig. 4, serves as a tie for the two portions of the double lever 39. Connected to the levers 37 and 39 are the springs 16 and 47. These springs tend to retain said levers in the position shown in-Fig. 3.

\Vhen the magnets 31 and 32 are energized, (as these are identical in construction, the description of one will sufiice, for

example the magnet 31) the first movement of the member 36 will cause the pawl 40 to come in contact with the teeth 42 of the segmental gear 43. Any further movement will cause the levers 37 and 39 to move upwardly carrying. with them the gear 43. By this movementmotion is communicated to the rod 18 which influences the action of the valves of the steam turbine through a system of levers. When the magnet 31 is deergized, the springs 47 cause the levers 37' and'39 to assume a straight line relation,

thereby pulling the pawl 40 awa' from the teeth 42 when it again assumes t e position shown in Fig. 3.

lVhen the magnet 32 is energized, the movement of the levers 37 and 39 and gear 13 is in the opposite direction, which obviously has an opposite effect on the tilrbine \Vhen either of th magnets is energized, the movement communicated to the ear is equal to a distance corresponding to the closing or opening of one valve.

The double lever 39 servesas a switch and engages with contacts 49 and 50 which are connected to the conductors 51 ,and '52. These conductors are connected to the electromagnets 53 and 54, and also connected to these magnets is a common conducto'r 55, the other end of which is permanently connected to the lever 39. A battery 56 is pro- -vidcd and furnishes current to energize the magnets 53 and 51. Cooperating with said magnets is an armature 57 which controls the two-part lever 53, 59, pawls 60 and 61. Attached to the gear (32 is a lever (33 which is connected to the lever 21 by means of a rod 64. The levers 58 and 59 are retained in their neutral position by m'cansof the springs 65 and 66. This last or follow-up de ce is identical in construction with the device which operates the rod 4-8 that is connected to the valve operating mechanism. Sa d device is for the purpose of returning the lever '31 'and the contacts 18 and 19 to the neutral position in. relation to the contactor For example, suppose the pressure increases in the bell 8. This necessitates the opening of more valves of the turbine, thereby increasing its speed and also that of the compressor which releases the increased pressure from the gas. retort.

levers 58 and 59, and gear 62. As said gear swings, itgives a downward movement to the lever (it. This downward movement of the lever imparts a similar movement to the right end of the lever 21 through the rod 64. I

The movement of the lever 21 draws the contact 19 away from the contactor 33, thereby breaking the circuit and allowing the levers 3'7 and 39 to return to their neutral position.

The lower extremity of the rod L8 is connected to a bell crank 67 which is fulcrumed at 68 the upper arm 69 of said bell crank being connected to a floating lever 70. The upper extremity of the lever 70 is pivotally :connectedto a link 71. The opposite end of the link 71 is pivotally connected to the lever 72 which is mounted on the shaft 73.

( )n the other end of .the shaft 73 is a lever 74 which is connected to the speed responsive device 75. 'By' means of'a' suitable link 76, the lever 70 is connected to an arm 7 7 on the shaft 78 on which are a plurality of shield plates 79 set about the axis of the shaft inv successive order. Rotation of these plates 79 will throw certain actuating pawls or dogs in or out of engagement with the notches in the valve stems 80. By this means the valves 81 are successively opened or closed, asthe case. requires. The work of operating the valves is done'by the lever 82 which is mounted on theshaft 78 and receives a constant oscillating movement from the connecting rod 83 which is connected to a crank or eccentric located in the casing 8%. The valves 81. arelocated in a suitable steam chest 85 from which the steam is. led through the conduit 86 to the buckets on the wheel. 87 and imparts a rotating .inoven'ient thereto.

Gases formed in the retort pass through the treating apparatus and the pipe 2 to the centrifugal compressor 3 driven by the. turbine at having. suitable valve operating mechanism which controls a plurality of successively operated valves. These. valves are controlled by the speed responsive device 75, but in case the supply of gas in. creases or dec1'eases,.it is desirable to bring into play the pressure regulator which antomatically modifies the control of the device WVhen the. pressure in the retort increases, this pressure is communicated to the bell 8 which moves upward carrying with it the rod 10 and the left end of the lever 9. The opposite end has a downward 75 movement which makes the member 33 engage'the contact 19. This closes an electrical circuit, energizes the magnet 31 by the current from the battery 35 passing through 30 and 34, and causes the. gear 43. to move in the direction'of the arrow. This causes a downward movement of the rod 48 which imparts motion to the bell crank 67 and gives a movement to the floating lever 70 in the direction of the arrow, pulling with it the link 76, arm 77 and shields .7 9, which allows a pawl to come. imposition to open one of the valves. The arrangement of the levers 67, 69, 70 and links 71, 76 is such that the valves are always subject to the control 90 of the speed responsive device 75 but the pressure responsive device can, when necessary, act at the same time to change the position of the levers and links and the shield plates which determine the movement of the valves by the lever 82, said pressure device thus acting with the device 75 to regulate the operation of the apparatus.

Simultaneously with the opening of the valve, the lever 39 comes in contact with the member 49, thus closing a circuit and energizing the magnet 53, lifting the armature 57 and causing the lever 21 to move downardly, thereby acting as a follow-up dcvlc'c and breaking the contact between the membcrs l9 and 33. If the pressure in theretort continues to increase, this operation will take place until all the valves are open. if the pressure decreases, the operation of the members will. be reversed, thereby closing some or all of the valves,

In accordance with the provisions ot'lhc patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the ap- 'iaratus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

W'hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States, is,-

1. The combination witha gas generator. of a, main leading from the generator, a

pump for drawing gas from the generator, 125

a motor for driving the pump, means for regulating the supply of energy tothe mo tor compr s ng twopivqted levers carrying electric contacts controlled by the bell, a

and to engage with said gear, valve-operatelectric contacts that are movable into and out of engagement with each other and an electromotive device connected with said contacts, a device responsive to the pressure in the main that controls the movement of one lever, and a follow-up mechanism coinprising contact means controlled by a movable part operated by the electromotive device aforesaid and also comprising an electromotive device connected therewith that controls the movement of the other lever to prevent over-travel of said regulating means.

2. The combination with a gas generator, of a pump for exhausting the gas therefrom that-is located at some distance from said generator to the pump, a main leading from the generator, an engine which drives the amp, a device responsive to variations in t e gas pressure which is located near the generator and comprises a liquid receptacle and a hell arranged within the receptacle, the interior of the bell being in communication with the main, an engine regulating mechanism including an electro-motive device, electrical connections between said electro-motive device and the pressure responsive device that are controlled by the movements of the bell and electromotive means controlled by the-movement of a part of the regulating mechanism aforesaid that is operated by said electromotive device for interrupting the connections aforesaid after they have been rendered effective by the bell.

3. The combination with a gas generator, of a gas main leading therefrom, a liquid receptacle adjacent to said generator, a bell in said receptacle, a pipe communicating with the main and opening beneath said bell,

power driven ump connected to said main, and an electrical speed regulating device for said pump in circuit with said contacts.

4. The combination with a turbine, of a gas pump driven thereby, a pressure responsive device on the gas main supplying the pump, an electric circuit controlled by the device, electromagnetsin the circuit, a movable armature for the elec tromagnets, a segment I gear, a lever movable adjacent thereto,'a double pawl pivoted on the lever and adapted to be actuated by said armature ing mechanism for the turbine, and means actuated by said gear for controlling said valve-operating mechanism.

5. The combination with a turbine, ot a gas pump driven thereby, a pressure responsive device on the gas main supplying the pump, an electric circuit controlled by the device, electromagnets in the circuit, a movable: armature for the electromagncts. a segment gear, a lever movable adjacent thereto, a double pawlpivoted on the lever and adapted to be actuated by said armature and to I device an engage with said gear, springs biasing said lever and pawl to a central position, valveoperating mechanism for the turbine, andmeans actuated by said gear for controlling said mechanism.

6. The combination with a turbine, of a gas pump driven thereby, a pressure responsive device on the as main suppl ing the pump, an electric circuit controlle by the device. electromagnets in the circuit, a movable armature for the electromagnets, a segment gear, a lever movable adjacent thereto, a double pawl pivoted on the lever and adapted to beactuated'by said armature and to engage with said gear, springs bias in said. lever and pawl to a central position, va ve-operating mechanism for the turbine, means actuated by said gear for controlling said mechanism, and a follow-up device for said mechanism which operates by breaking said circuit.

7 The combination with a gas generator, of a gas main leading from the generator, a pump connected thereto at a distance from the generator, aturbine driving the pump and provided with a plurality of successively operating valves, an electrical device for controlling the operation of said valves, a.

pressure responsivedevice at the enerator end of said main, an electric circuit having contacts 0 erated by the pressure responsive including also the valve controlling device,and electrical means for openin said contacts after a valve has been operate v 8. The combination with a gas generating apparatus, of a centrifugal pump for exhausting gas therefrom, a turbine driving the pump, valve means for regulating, the admission of motive fluid to the turbine, and means for maintaining a substantially const-ant suction on the generating apparatus comprising a device responsive to the pres sure of the gas, a device responsive to the speed of the turbine, and connections between said devices and the valve means comprising an electromotive means for actuating the latter and a controller for said electromotive means which is itself controlled by the pressure responsive device and anof a pump for exhausting the gas therefrom that is located atsome distance from said generator, a mam leading from the generator to the pump, an engine for driving the pump and regulating means therefor, a

device responsive to the variations in the gas sponsive device, and anot er electromotive pressure located near the generator, an-electromotive means for aotuatin the engine gine regulating means. regulating means and controler therefor- In witness whereof I have hereunto set which is itself controlled b the/pressure remy hand this 16th day of May, 1910.

' RICHARD H. RICE.

Witnesses: a JOHN A. MCMANUS, Jr.,'

CHARLES A. BARNAnn.

means controlled by the movement ofa part operated by the first mentioned electromotive means which reacts upon the controller It is hereby .certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,100,257, granted June 16, 1914,?

appear in the printed speeifioatio'n requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 16,:

, strike out the words to the pump; same page, line f7, after the word generator 'insertthe words the pump; and that the said LettersPatent should read with these corrections therein that'the same may conformto the record ofthecase: in the Patent Office. I l I I Q I v v I Q Signed and sealed this 14th day of July, A. 11,1914.

" "minnw'ron,

[smn] Actng Oommimbner of Patents;

Correctione in Letters Patent No. 1,100,257

aforesaid to prevent overactuation of the enupon the application of Richard H. Rice, of Lynn, Massachusetts, for an improvement in A utornatic Regulators for Motor-Driven Pumping Apparatus, errorss 

